Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-04

The Supreme Court of the United states In sew
eral cases have established a precedent for the
national democratic convention In its broad clas-
siication OF the District OF Columbia among the
territories For instance in the Bank OF Alexan-
drfa vs.. Dyer they say: "Such Is now the condi-
ton OF the counties of washington and AIexan-
dr1a, which together constitute the territory of
Columbia" In the circuit court, oregon, 1882, In
the case of watson vs. Brooks, Judge Deadly says:
"At an early day 1t was held in Hepburn vs. Elzey,
Cranch AS. that the District OF Columbia Is not
"a state within the meaning OF that term as used
in the article OF the constitution defining the
judicial power OF the United States and therefore
q resident thereof could not sue in the United
States courts as a citizen OF a state. Afterwards
in New Orleans VS.. Winter Wheat 81, the ques-
ton arose IN regard TO territory. and it was held
that a territory was in the same category as
Columbia, and though both are states-politieal
societies In the general sense of the term-nether
are in the sense in which the term is used in the
constitution. where 1t Is intended only TO cOmpre-
bend members Of the American eonfederacy.'"
After thus showing that Columbia and the terri
tories have been clasSed together in distinction
from Estates" Judge Deadly vigorously dsapproves
this distinction, and expresses the decided opinion
that II the matter were to be passed upon for the
first time now the term states would be held to
include the District and territories. There does
not seem then to be any difficulty either IN law or
territories" 50 as to cover the District
In other words, tailless crows include those
which have lost their tails as wen as those which
never had any, q fact deserving to be noted by
un0edged journalistic birds.
The confirmation OF Trorter has q practical
bearing, and bearing upon principle. Practically
the despotic power and avowed intent In this mat
ter of the President who is king In the District II
only President elsewherel, coupled with the sharp
trick OF appointing Trotter deputy recorder, had
already doomed the District without hope OF es-
cape, to have this carpet Dagger loaded upon its
shoulders and TO pay him in fees unaided by the
government, at the rate OF s., 900 per month for
his throttling services as 'Old man Of the Sea-,
Practically, therefore, the wrong done by the
President has not been aggravated by the con-
frmatfon OF Trotter, the revolution Of the recor-
dership pap-dfsh has been stopped, and possible
ground OF objection TO the legality OF the record OF
subsequent District eonveyances is removed
In principle, however, the action of the Senate
cannot be sustained. In the contest with the
President IL has gone to the wall. 1t has aban-
dOned consistency, east suspicion upon its previous
action, sacrificed principle and conniyed at the
wrong done to the District by the President in the
pursuit Of supposed party advantage II the
Senate diSapproves nomination, its cOnstitu-
fiona right and duty call upon IL to reject not to
protest and confirm. II the rejection Of Matthews
as nonresident was proper, then Trotter should
have been rejected also. But republicans feared
that democratic President would compensate the
cOiored race for the alleged absence OF 'just rec
ignition in Washington county, Texas, by "just
recognition, at the expense OF the District of COL
ored carpet-baggers from the north, and their
timfd hearts failed them. It seemed better to
them TO do what they thought the President. In
the game OF political trickery did not wish, than
10 hold fast TO principle justice and consistency
The report OF Mr.. Curtin's House committee of
inquiry into the labor troubles of last March is
rather late In coming. but 1t contains good deal
OF timely Information What happened last spring
might be repeated this spring. but il Is to be hoped
that every Intelligent workngman who reads the
Curtin report will ask himself candidly whether
violence pays The direct loss 70 the striking en-
ployes OF the Missouri Pacific railroad under Mar
Tin Irons generalship was only about one-third as
much as the loss suffered by the road itself: but
the road is owned by a company OF weIl-to-do can
fralsts, who could AFFORD a considerable loss
whereas the strikers were, for the most part Door
men whose wages were their sole dependence for
support. Besides these direct losses there are to
be taken Into account the losses inflicted on other
Wofktngmen who had nothing 10 do with the
strike, and the suIerings Of the general public
through the southwestern coal famine, the stagna-
uon OF trade, etc. These Items make up a total of
several million dollars, which might Just as well
have been saved and enjoyed by the owners there
OF IT. instead OF attempting violence, the honestly
aggr1eved workingmen had insisted upon arbi-
trat1ng their differences with their employers.
There Is a whole sermon on the labor question in
the Curtin report, and it Is not dull preaching,
either.
Inere Is better Temperance lesson In the case